Fountain pen



J. GREGG FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Oct. 10.' 1944 ggg/20912 LES gang.,

\ Oct. 22, 1946.

Patented O:t. `22,l Y l i l S PATENT ori-ica FoUNTAm PEN Jon Gregg, New Hope, Pa. Application ctober 1'0, 1944, Sci-iai No. 557.951

. 1 This invention relates to fountain pen.

An object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen employing a paste-like writingsubstance and comprising a barrel provided with a` Worm rotatably mounted therein, said worm being adapted to be rotated from the rear of-the instrument to press the writing substance to the writing point of the instrument.

Another object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument of the character described provided with a ball point and means to press Writing medium to the point.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument of the character de scribed provided with means slidably mounted thereon to cover the writing point when the instrument is not in use, said covering means being retractable to expose the writing point for writing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument of the character described having a writing head which may be unscrewed from the barrel, and a collapsible rell tube containing writing substance which may then be screwed onto the barrel and the writing substance pressed into the barrel. The tube may then be unscrewed from the barrel and the writinsr head rescrewed onto the barrel.

14 claims; (01120-543) Y fled; Fig. 'I`is a top plan viewof a modied form of Yet another object of this invention is to p'ovide a writing instrument of the character described comprising a barrel, a` tubular liner within the barrel, a worm rotatably mounted in the barrel and contacting the liner, and means to turn the worm within the barrel, the barrel, the tubular liner, and its turning means being removable as a unit from the rear end of the barrel, and replaceable therein, whereby to permit a, new unit containing an additional supply of writing medium to be replaced within the barrel.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide al writing `instrument of thecharacter described comprising'a barrel provided with an.

inner hner of compressible material and a worm within said barrel pressing against said liner to prevent leakage around the worm blade.

A stilll further object of this invention is to provide in a writinginstrumentvoi the character described, means to permit turning of the worm only in thev direction for feeding writing substanceto the writing point of the instrument. Yet another object of this invention is to'provide a strong, durable and compact writing instrument' of the character described which shall berelatively inexpensivev to manufacture, easy to 2 manipulate and reiill. and which shall be prac tical and eiilcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter 'pointed out. j

'I'he invention accordingly consists in the-A features of construction, combinations of elements,`

and arrangement of parts which will be exemplined in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims. l

In the accompanying drawing. in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embo diments of thisinvention, V Y

Fig. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a writing instrument embodying the invention; i

Fig. 2 is a Partial View 0f the writing'instrument with the closure means retracted to expose the writingpoint; Y f

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of 2:.

Fig. 4 is a crm-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig.' l;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustratingamodiiledconstriiction; l

-Fig. 6 is a front end view of a fountain pen embodying the invention and still further modiretainer for the writing point of the instrument;

Fig. 8 is a. view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrating yet another form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a front end view ofthe structure shown inFig.8;

rig. ioisaside vieworuie structuresncwnirr Fig. 8 with the closure cap retracted; and

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partially in crosssection, of the writing instrument with the vwriting head removed and a rell tube screwed onto the barrel.:

Referring. now in detail to the drawing, Il) designates a writing instrument embodylngthe invention. The same comprises a cylindricalV barrel Il having an externally screw threaded Aportion i la at its rear end forming a shoulder lib. At its front end the barrel lil is formed with an .internal screw threaded portion I3.

forming a recessedinner shoulder i4.

- In the drawing the reduced end edge of Vbarrel li is designated -by numeral llc. Screwed onto the'rear end of theiiarrel is a rear end member llid. Member lid is formed with an internally screw threaded portion llc adapted to be screwed to the screw threaded portion Ila of the barrel. The forward end` Ilf of member lid contacts` shoulder lib of the barrel. Member lid is fura 3 thermore, formed with the endIIc of the barrel.

Interposed between surfaces IIc and IIg is a washer IIh. Member IId formed with a through opening I2. At its rear surface it is' also formed with an annular internal groove 23 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Member IId is also formed with an inner cylindrical surface lli coextensive with the inner surface I Illc of the barrel Il.

Within the barrel II is a tubular or cylindrical 4 liner I5 made of rubber or compressible synthetic posed .beyond the rear surface of the barrel II,

and with a further reduced screw threaded end portion 2l beyond the ratchet. In the annular groove 23 is a washer vor vgasket 24 surrounding stem I9 to prevent leakage through said opening I2. Surrounding said stem I9 is also a washer 23a contactingthe inner surface of member IId.

,Screwed onto the screw threaded portion 2l is a head, cap or handle 25. Said cap 25 is formed with a recess 26 on its underside and with a screw threaded opening 21 extending from the recess to receive the screw 2|. The stem I5 is preferably formed with a shoulder 28 contacting .the bottom wall of recess 2=5 so that the cap 25 will not be wedged tight against the barrel. The end surface 25a`f cap 25 presses washer 24 to seal opening I.2 when said gap contacts shoulder 28.

It will now be understood that upon turning the cap, the worm I will be turned therewith.

Fixed to the rear end of the barrel is a pivot pin 30 and pivoted thereon is a pawl 3l engag-r ing the ratchet teeth 20. A suitable spring 32 serves to press the pawl 3I against the ratchet 20 so that the'worm can only be turned in a dishoumer lig oppositev tube 4I is a ball retainer 55. The same maybe inade of spring wire and is ln the 'form o1' a keyhole shaped loop havinga substantially elliptical Mounted on portion 5s 'of the spring Isr 'is a" ball 50. The spring serves to press the -ball against the rim 51 of member 50 at the opening 53. The writing medium employed in the pen is in paste form. The same may be in the form of an ink or a graphite composition or any other suitable writing medium.

Upon turning the handle the writing medium will be pressed forwardly through passage 45 and past spring 55 into the chamber 55 formed between the ball 60 and the shoulder 4Ib. As a person; writes with the instrument, the ball 60 will rotate and carry writing medium around so as to provide a supply of writing substance to the ball point. It will be noted that the worm Y can only be rotated in a direction for feeding rection for feeding writing substance downwardly in the barrel toward the writing point, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Screwed onto the barrel II is a writing head 40. The writing head 40 comprises a tubular 50 member 4I having an external screw threaded portion 42 screwed into the screw threaded portion I3 of the barrel. The screw threaded portion 42 has an end surface 44 contacting shoul.- I

der I4 andalso contacting the forward end of 55 tube I5, thereby retaining said tubewithin the barrel. Member 4I is furthermore formed with a `tapered through opening 45. At its forwardV end itis formed with a shank'4la having an externally screw threaded front end portion 45 forming an external, recessed shoulder 41. Member 4I is also formed with an annular groove 4l at therear end of shank 4 I, spaced from shoulder 41, for thev purpose hereinafter appearing. It is also formed with acylindrical axial groove 49 65 writing medium toward the ball pqint;f-\

Means is provided to enclose the writing point, said means being retractable to expose said point. To this end there is mounted on the head 4I a tubular member 10 having a cylindrical portion H surrounding portion 4Ia of the tube 4I, and projecting into the cylindrical groove 49. The forward end 'IIa of member" 10 is tapered to a point and is formed with radiating slits 12 thereby providing a plurality ot segments 13 which may be spread open. On the rear end of member 50 is an external annular rib 14 engaging the inner surfaces of the segments 13.7 Between the segments 13 and the cylindrical wall 1I is an inwardly extending annular rib 15 forming an annular external groove 15. Within said groove is a split ring 11. It will now be understood that when member 10 is pressed forwardly thesegments 13 close up to cover the writing point as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. When member 10 is retracted the segments 13 are opened up by the annular rib 14, and the cylindrical portion 1I is received within the groove49. The rib 15 of member 10 may snap into thegroove 48 to'retain member,10 in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

'I'hewriting' instrument may be refilled with writing substance by unscrewing the head 4I and screwing onto the barrel, in its place, a rell tube 99. The rell tube 80 may be of the collapsible type and is provided with a screw threaded neck 8i which may screw into the screw threaded portion I3 of the barrel. After the tube is screwed onto the barrel, the tube is collapsed or pressed, to squeeze or press the contents into the barrel. After the barrel is refilled with writing substance the tube may be unscrewed therefrom and the writing head'4n rescrewed onto the barrel. x

It will be understood that by unscrewing member IId from the barrel, the worm member 25 and the tube 'can be removed as a unit from the barrel. Another unit filled lwith writing substance may then be replaced into the barrel, thereby serving as a rell for writing medium. The liner tube I5 serves as a container for the writing medium. T he front end of the vtube may be closed by any suitable capping material which may be removed prior to insertion into the barrel. 1

If desired, furthermore, member IId may be made integral with the barrel as one piece and 4 means 10 a modified closure means |00.

:sarcasmA 5 in such event the inner liner tube I5 aswell-as the worm A may be inserted through the 'front end of the barrel. With such construction the reillling would be accomplished by means ofthe rell tube 80 as illustrated inFig. l1.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a pen |0a illustratingV a modified construction. Pen I 0a is similar to 90 partially projects into the opening 92. The

writing point is formed with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 93' through which the writing medium may pass tothe front end of the point.

groove preferably terminates short of the front end of the writing point.

' In Fig. 6 there is shown a pen |0b illustrating another modified form of the invention. The

pen |0b is similarto pen |0a except that it is provided with an ellipsoid shaped writing point The pen is provided 95 which has no grooves. with a member` 50a similar to member 50v except that at the opening it is formed with a plu'` rality of small notches 96 to permit writing medi-um to'pass through to the forward end of the writing point 95.

In Fig. 'l there is shown a washer 91 to replace the spring 55. Washer 91 hs an annular flat -plate formed with a central opening 91a on which the ball 00 rests. The writing medium may pass through the point.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is shown a pen |0c illustrating yet another form of the invention. The pen |0c is the same as the p en |0 with the exception that there is substituted for the closure Ihe closure means |00 comprisesa tube |0| at the front end of which is a diaphragm. The diaopenings 98 in the washer, to"

g phragm |02 has radial slits |03 to form segments |04. The diaphragm may be nxed to the front w end of the tube in any suitable manner. Tube f up and the ball passes therethrough so it is exposed fcr the writing operation. The rear end of tube |0| enters the groove 49 when lthe tube is retracted.

' It will thus be seen 'that' there is provided a g device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be madeA of the above invention, and as4 various changes might be made` in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be 'understood that al1 matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A writing instrument comprising a barrel, a worm within the barrel, said writing instrument, having a nib, and a paste-like writing substance within the barrel adapted to be pressed towards the nib upon turning the worm within the barrel.

2V. A writing instrument comprising a barrel, .a worin within the barrel, said writing instrument having a nib, a paste-like writing substance adapted to be pressed toward the nib upon turning :the worm within Ithe barrel, and a Itubular liner of compressible material within .the barrel and contacted by the worm.

3. A writing instrument comprising a barrel, a worm Within the barrel, said writing instr-ument having nib, a tubular liner of compressible material within vthe barrel and contacted by thel worm. and means at the rear end of the barrel to turn said worm.

4. 'A pen comprisinga' barrel, a tubular liner within` the barrel, a worm within the barrel and contacting said liner. and a writing head .screwed to the barrel and retaining said ltube in said barrel.

5. A pen comprising a barrel, a tubular liner within the barrel, a worm within the barrel and contacting said liner, a writing head screwed to the barrel and retaining said tube in said barrel, and a-ball point at the forward end of the writing head.

6. A pen comprising a barrel, a tubular liner within the barrel, a worm within the barrel and l contacting said liner, a writing head screwed to the barrel and retaining said Itube in said barrel, a ball point at the forward end of the writing head, and means at the rear end of the barrel and connected to Ithe worm for turning .the worm within the barrel.v f

'1. A pen comprising a barrel a paste-like Writing substance within the barrel, a tubular liner within the barrel, a Worm within the barrel and contacting said liner, a writing head screwed to the barrel and retaining said .tube in said barrel. a ball point at the forward end"of the writing head, means at the rear end of the barrel and `connectedto the worm for turning the worm `within the barrel; and means to prevent rotation of thebarrel in a direction to forcethis writing substance back from .the ball point.

8. A pen comprising a barrela paste like writing substance'within the barrel, a worm within the barrel, a writing head at the front end of the barrel, a ball point the frontend of the ywriting head, a worm within said barrel, and means at 50 the rear end of the barrel to rotate the Worm.

9. A pen comprising a barrel a paste like writ- Jing substance lwithin the barrel, a wormv within the barrel, a writing head at the front end of the barrel a ball point at the front end of the writing head, a worm within said barrel, means at the rear end of the barrel to rotate the worm, and a paste-like writing substance within the barrel adapted to be pressed toward the writing point upon turning said worm within said barrel. Y, 10. A pen comprising a barrel a paste like writing substance within the barrel, said barrel hav.- ing .an internally screw threaded portion at the front end, and a 'rear wall at its rear end, a worm a5 within said barrel, a stem at the rear end ofsaid worm, said rear wall having a through opening, through whichl said stem passes, 4afn'iember fixed to said stem-for turning said worm, a Ytubular writing head having `external Ascrew threads .m screwed to the screw threaded portion'of said barrel, an annular tip member screwed to the forward end of said writing head, said tipi member being vcurved forwardly and inwardly and being formed with a central opening, a ball within 15 said tip member, and means within the tip Vmem- 7 b er to retain the .ball at the opening in said ti member.

11. A pen comprising a barrel a paste like writing substance within the'barrel, said barrel having an internally screw threaded portion at the front end, and a rear wall at its rear end, a worm within said barrel, a stem at the rear end oi' said worm, said rear wall having a through opening, through which said stem passes, a member xed to said stem for turning said worm, a tubular writing head having external screw threads screwed'to the screw threaded lportion of said barrel, an annular tip member screwed to the forward end of said'writing head, said tip member being curved forwardly and inwardly and being formed with a central opening, a ball within said tip member, means within the tip member to retain the ball at the opening in said tip member, and a tubular liner within said barrel contacting the worm, said writing head having means to contact the tubular liner to retain the same within said barrel. A

` 12. A pen comprising a barrel a paste like l A l tip member attached to vthe forward end oi the writing head, said tip member being formed with a centra1 opening at its front end, a writing point within said tip member, and means to retain the writing point partially projected through said opening.

13. Apen comprising a barrel a paste like writing substance within the barrel, a member attached to the rear end of the barrel, a worm within the barrel, and rotatably mounted on saidl member. and means on said member to rotate the worm within the barrel. 4 v

- 14. A pen comprising a barrel a paste like writing substance within the barrel, a member attached to ,the rear end of the barrel, a worm vwithin the barrel, and rotatably mountedon said member, means on said member to rotate the Worm within the barrel, a writing head attached to the front end of the barrel, and a writing point at the front end of said writing head.

. JON GREGG. 

